Celebrity hairstylist reveals seven haircare mistakes you should avoid

While there’s plenty of haircare advice out there, not every hack, tip or trick is suitable for everyone. Here are seven mistakes you need to avoid – according to a celebrity hairstylist!

As with any beauty and haircare advice out there, it’s essential to be considerate of your individual hair type and needs. While some tips may work wonders for one person, they might not be suitable for another.

Someone who is no stranger to A-list clients and red-carpet events, Sophie Miller, a beauty expert and celebrity contact agent at Booking Agent Info, shares a few haircare mistakes that you should consider avoiding to achieve your healthiest locks yet.

1) Wearing a ponytail every day

Sure, ponytails are super convenient and a classic hairstyle, but they can also wreak havoc on your hair and scalp when worn too tightly every day. 

Some advice will tell you to keep your hair in high ponytails to promote growth, but this is false. Save the slick and tight ponytails for special occasions to give your hair a chance to breathe and recover.

2) Bleaching your hair too quickly

While a gateway to vibrant hair colour, bleaching isn’t great for our hair, so if we are going to go lighter, it’s advised to do it gradually. 

Bleaching requires stripping away natural pigments from your hair, which can make it weak and prone to breakage.

Regular deep conditioning treatments can help to keep your bleached hair nourished and healthy, so as long as you’re being sensible and patient – it’s perfectly fine.

3) Not using safe heating techniques

Heat styling tools like straighteners and blow dryers can transform hair in an instant, but they can also cause damage with prolonged use. 

You can shield your hair from excessive damage by using a heat protectant. You can also use your styling tools at lower heat settings. If you have the right tools and the right protectors, there’s nothing wrong with using heated stylers for your haircare.

4) Using only conditioners before shampooing

Masks are a perfect substitute for conditioning, especially before your initial shampoo routine. 

Conditioner isn’t the be all and end all of your hair routine and can easily be skipped with a nourishing mask in its place. Instead, look for masks with ingredients like shea butter, argan oil or keratin to revitalize your hair and restore its natural shine.

5) Using the same shampoo

Using the same shampoo every day might seem like a consistent hair care regime, but it may not always be the best approach, especially from a seasonal perspective.

Just like us, our hair care routines will often adapt to the seasons or hormonal changes, styling products and more. For instance, you could have a clarifying shampoo for occasional deep cleansing, a moisturising shampoo for a boost of hydration. 

Staying loyal to the proverbial soil might mean that you’re depriving your strands of much needed nutrients.

6) Trimming your hair frequently

One of the most persistent hair care myths is the idea that trimming your hair frequently will make it grow quicker or in abundance. 

Regular trims are essential for maintaining healthy hair and preventing split ends, but don’t directly affect the rate of hair growth. 

Hair growth happens at scalp level, so head massages are more likely to encourage the circulation needed for healthy strands to grow.

7) Falling for the 100 strokes for shiny locks myth

This myth might have been popularized in old movies, but is miles from the truth. Brushing your hair excessively can actually do more harm than good. 

Excessive brushing can stimulate the production of sebum, giving hair a greasy and dull look. 

Be kind to your hair, brush when needed and apply the correct products in order to detangle without breakage, and it will reward you with a healthy and shiny appearance.